THE VOICE OF THE POET James Merrill

The Voice of the Poet series, produced in installments over a three-year period, is gleaned from Yale library's extensive archive of poetry read at the university over the years. Each program provides a survey of each poet's work at both its strongest and most characteristic; cumulatively, the series reveals the lifeblood of poetry: a human voice making experience into art. Not surprisingly, some of the poets read their work better than others. James Merrill's urbane voice mirrors the elegance of his poems. The series itself could not have been put together with more care. A sixty-minute cassette presents the poet reading his or her own work--each includes some never-before-released recordings of the author. Also included is a booklet with a ten-page insightful introduction by noted poet and critic J.D, McClatchy, the texts for the twenty or so career-spanning poems read by the poet, and a brief reading list. Beyond the content is the stunning design of the individual packages. Overall, The Voice of the Poet series should stand as a benchmark for other audio poetry programs. P.B.J. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]